Chapter Twenty-One #2
“They don’t,” Joey said. “If you watch cows in a field, one will wander over to a greener spot, and soon there is a line…all following the first cow.”
Felix kept his eye on the cattle. “Cows are not very bright, are they?”
“No,” Joey chuckled. “But they make good steaks.”
Felix circled to the left, encouraging the cattle to stay together. Joey did the same to the right, keeping the herd moving forward. The dust and noise from the herd were more than Felix expected, and he rode over near Joey, coughing from the dust. “Dang…this herding business is dirty.”
“Told you,” Joey shouted, coughing on the dust. “Tie your bandanna around your face, covering your nose and mouth. That will help, and we can drop back a bit as long as the cattle keep moving forward.” He let Lightning amble forward as he let go of the reins to tie his bandanna.
Felix followed suit. Soon they were far enough behind the dust cloud being carried northward by the breeze, and they could breathe easier.
Felix spoke through the bandanna, “I always wondered about bandannas. Now we can breathe.”
“Keep an eye out for strays, Felix. Cows have a mind of their own. Not a very big mind, but it doesn’t take much to wander off.”
“Gotcha.” Felix spotted a straggler and rode up to encourage it to stay with the herd.
* * *
An hour later, they arrived at the spring. Some cattle slaked their thirst while others grazed on the green grass surrounding the watering hole.
Joey guided Felix toward one of the trees near the spring. “Let’s allow the horses to drink, then we’ll tether them to a tree and get in to wash off this dirt.” He led Lightning to the spring and dismounted as his horse slaked his thirst. “Watch out for cow pies,” Joey said.
“Cow pies?” At the spring, Felix dismounted from Sparkle. “Is that something Ma made us for lunch?”
Joey laughed out loud. “No. It’s poop from the cows. Don’t step in it.”
Felix checked around but didn’t see any. “Warn me if you see any in my path.”
The horses finished drinking, and Joey took their leads and tethered them to a tree.
Felix stripped off his clothes as fast as he could, shaking out the dust and hanging everything on a tree branch. He ran to the water and shouted yaa-hoo. A splash followed. The cows raised their heads at the noise.
Felix shook the water from his hair after he emerged. Joey remembered the first day they came to this spring and how difficult it was to get Felix to relax enough to take off his clothes.
“You didn’t shed your clothes that fast the first time we were here.
” Joey laughed as he tore off his clothes, shook out the dust, and hung them by Felix’s.
He jumped into the spring, and the sound was blocked when his head went under.
He poked his head out, shook the water from his hair, and wiped the droplets from his eyes.
“I was scared that day.” Felix rubbed the back of his neck and fingered his ears to clean them. “But now I like being naked with you, and I’m not scared anymore.” He ducked under the water again. When he emerged, he wiped his face.
Joey smiled. “I’m sure glad. I like being naked with you, too.”
Felix moved over to where Joey was sitting in the water. He sank and got his head wet again, then surfaced and shook the water from his hair.
“Hey…stop that!” Joey laughed, scooted backward, and shoved the heel of his hand through the water to splash Felix.
“You’re asking for it now,” Felix shouted, a huge grin on his face. He swam after Joey, caught him, and pushed his head under the water.
Laughter filled the air as they wrestled in the cool water, washing off all the dirt from the cattle drive.
Joey stopped wrestling and pulled Felix into a passionate kiss.
He moved into the strong arms wrapping around him and tilted his head to deepen the kiss, the flavor of Felix flooding his senses.
There was something magical about the physical sensation of touching Felix.
He placed his palms on Felix’s cheeks and pulled back, hooded eyes looking back at him.
“We’re in cold water, and you’re making me hot, Felix,” he panted, then wrapped his hands around Felix’s neck and kissed him again.
“I love it when you touch me. You make me feel so amazing,” Felix groaned, pulling out of the kiss and wrapping his hand around Joey’s hard dick.
Joey dragged his fingers down to Felix’s crotch. He liked the way Felix’s dick felt in his fingers. “Cowboy is excited.”
Felix groaned. “I like it when you play with my dick. I think I could let you do that forever.”
Joey kissed Felix’s soft lips. He loved to taste Felix and loved the way Felix’s tongue danced with his.
“Oh god, Joey, you’re going to make me squirt,” Felix panted through their kiss.
“Me too,” Joey said. His breath came in gasps.
Joey looked into the clear water at their fingers, teasing their hard dicks.
A slow moan starting deep within Felix’s chest became a gasp as his hard dick shot white stuff through the slit.
It flowed away in the spring water. At the sight and sound of Felix’s pleasure, Joey felt the tingling excitement between his legs and groaned as his ecstasy grew, and he shot white stuff from his dick, carried away by the flow.
When it was over, Joey pulled Felix into a deep kiss.
Felix pulled out of the kiss. “I looked forward to this swim all day. I couldn't wait for us to be naked in our spring.”
“Me too,” Joey said. “Why did we fight so hard against our love?”
“Accepting our feelings was not easy, but thanks to Ma and Pa, we did.”
They stayed in the water, hugging and loving each other for another ten minutes. The coolness of the water, combined with the waning heat of passion, made them shiver. They climbed out and lay on the bank, letting the warm late afternoon sunshine bathe them.
Joey sat up. “We'd better get dressed and go back home. Ma will have supper soon, and we don’t want to miss that.”
Felix pulled Joey into a light kiss. “Thanks for this. I can’t believe I dreaded coming to the ranch.”
“You have the heart of a rancher, Felix. Our fathers did a good thing bringing you here.”
Felix planted another light kiss on Joey’s lips. “I think so, too.”
They dressed, then mounted and rode back to the barn. After unsaddling and currying the horses, they went to the house for supper.
* * *
“How did the herding go today?” Grover asked from his seat at the table.
“It went fine,” Joey said. “Felix is a natural-born horseman. He picked up on things fast, and we had no trouble getting the cattle to the spring.”
“I’m happy to hear that. Did you get dirty?”
“We did.” Felix grinned. “We backed away from the herd a bit to avoid the thick dust cloud. Once we got the herd moving, it was easy to keep them in line.”
“And, of course, swimming was involved, I assume. Neither of you looks dirty at all.”
“We stayed in the water until we were shivering, then lay on the bank in the warm sun,” Joey said. “The water feels good at first, but it’s cold, and if you stay in for a while, you get cold too.”
“I’m glad you both had a good afternoon. What’s for supper, Mabel?”
“Pork chops, fresh squash from the garden, sweet potatoes, and blackberry cobbler for dessert.”
“Yum,” Joey and Felix crowed. “Let’s eat.”
* * *
After supper, the family retired to the parlor.
The two young men sat at the table to play a game of dominoes.
Joey taught Felix to play, but then regretted it.
Felix was good and was beating Joey almost every game.
Mabel settled in her favorite chair with her sewing.
Grover sorted through the mail and found a letter for Felix.
“The mail I picked up in town today included a letter for you, Felix. I think it’s from your father.”
Felix’s stomach tied in knots. The last letter from his father sent him spiraling into a deep depression. He kept his hands to himself and eyed Grover. “Pa, would you read it to me?” His voice shook. “I don’t think I want to read it myself.”
“Are you sure, Felix? I don’t like reading other people’s private mail.”
Uneasiness clawed Felix’s chest. He was surprised his father didn’t argue with him about staying at the ranch. This letter could be a demand for him to return home. “You’ll see it anyway, Pa. Even if I read it first.”
“Okay.” Grover opened the envelope, withdrew the letter, and read it aloud. Mabel and Joey listened too.
Son,
I am enclosing a bill for the vase you broke. You can pay for it the next time you come to town.
Your mother was very disappointed that you left without saying goodbye. I’m surprised you would treat her that way.
When you get tired of playing on the ranch, I might consider hiring you back, provided I haven't hired someone else by then.
Father
Grover was breathing heavily by the time he finished. His scowl told Felix that Pa found the letter disturbing. “Are you okay, Pa?”
Grover folded the letter, placed it in the envelope, and took it to Felix. “I’m fine, Felix. Do with this what you will.”
Mabel put down her sewing. “Felix, are you okay?”
Felix took the letter from Grover, still eyeing him as he spoke. “I’m fine, Ma. He can’t hurt me anymore. My place is here with you three.”
Grover opened his arms. “C’mere.”
Felix stood and sank into Grover’s fatherly hug, wrapping his arms around the big man who had become more of a father to him than he thought possible.
“Never feel like you aren’t loved, Felix.” Grover’s deep voice vibrated through Felix. “You said he can’t hurt you, but your expression said otherwise.”
Felix buried his face in Grover’s neck and coughed a sob. “It’s so hard, Pa,” the words choked out. “Even though he is mean to me, he is still the man who fathered me. I don’t understand what I did wrong.”
“You did nothing wrong. You are smart, talented, and have a lot of love to give.”
Felix pulled back and wiped the tears from his face.
“Thanks, Pa.”
“And you know what?” Grover continued, “You learned how to accept love since you got here. It took some time, but you finally realized love isn’t so bad after all.”
Felix thought about how he fought against his love for Joey. “You’re right about that. It’s a good thing Sterlings are persistent.”
Grover squeezed Felix, then released.
Felix looked at Joey and winked a wet eye, letting Joey know he was okay.
“You two get back to your domino game. I have work to do at my desk.”
Joey and Felix finished their domino game, and this time, Joey won.
Joey yawned. “Let’s go up to bed. We had a long day today, and I’m tired.”
“Me too.” Felix turned the dominoes face down, then stood. “G’night, Ma. G’night, Pa.”
Joey also said goodnight, and the two climbed the stairs to their bedroom. They undressed and climbed into bed.
“Joey, can you hold me tonight?” Felix whispered, wanting Joey’s arms around him so he could forget his Father’s letter.
Joey nuzzled Felix’s ear. “You know I love holding you.” He spooned Felix and wrapped him in his arms. Soft snores soon filled the room.